Matthew Thiessen (PhD, Duke) is associate professor in the department of Religious Studies at McMaster University.

His latest book is Jesus and the Forces of Death: The Gospels' Portrayal of Ritual Impurity in First-Century Judaism (Baker Academic, 2020).

In this episode, we discuss how the Gospels portray ritual impurity in corpses, genital discharges, and certain skin conditions. Thiessen's claim is that Jesus does not oppose the system of ritual purity, but rather the impurities themselves, which Jesus consistently removes from those who suffer them. Consequently, Jesus’ ministry of removing impurities suggests that his ministry is one of bringing life to those suffering from the power of death. 

Thiessen's other books include, Paul and the Gentile Problem, and Contesting Conversion: Genealogy, Circumcision, and Identity in Ancient Judaism and Christianity.